to wind up the debate on statements by the High Representative for the CFSP and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Daniel Marc Cohn-Bendit, Cem Özdemir, Angelika Beer, Hélène Flautre, Margrete Auken, Jill Evans, Caroline Lucas, Johannes Voggenhuber and David Hammerstein Mintz
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories and the role of the EU

European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories and the role of the EU

B6‑0304/2006

The European Parliament,

–
having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East, in particular that of 2 February 2006 on the result of the Palestinian elections and the situation in East Jerusalem,

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having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meetings of 30-31 January, 10-11 April and 15 May 2006,

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having regard to the statement of the Quartet of 9 May 2006,

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having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.
whereas after the swearing in of the new Palestinian Government and the result of the general elections in Israel the Council decided to review EU assistance to the Palestinian National Authority, noting with concern that the Palestinian Government had not committed itself to the principles of non-violence, the recognition of Israel’s right to exist and acceptance of existing agreements,

B.
stressing that the legislative elections of 25 January 2006 proved once again the extraordinary determination and commitment of the Palestinian people to the process of democracy and that the result is to be considered in all respects their legitimate and democratic expression, which must be fully accepted and respected by all sides, parties and the international community,

C.
recalling the plea made by President Mahmoud Abbas in this House on 16 May 2006 calling for the new Palestinian Government to be given the chance to adapt to the basic requirements of the international community,

D.
pointing out that the suspension of EU aid is exacerbating the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Occupied Territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where hospitals are running out of vital supplies, the lives of the weakest and most vulnerable people are hanging in the balance and a humanitarian crisis is fast gathering momentum,

E.
whereas on 9 May 2006 the Quartet reiterated its support for assistance to help meet the basic human needs of the Palestinian people and expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration and ensures direct delivery of assistance to Palestinians; whereas the EU has been given the task of developing and putting forward such a mechanism,

F.
stressing that the US opposed the EU proposal to provide aid to the Palestinians through an international organisation like the World Bank which would have sped up action and facilitated international assistance,

G.
drawing attention to the resignation of James Wolfeson as Quartet Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement because of his reservations about the suspension of aid to the Palestinian Authority,

H.
whereas the Israeli Government is withholding approximately EUR 50 million a month in taxes and customs duties, that without any doubt belong to the Palestinians, thus increasing the suffering of the Palestinian people; whereas the Israeli Foreign Minister announced on 21 May 2006 that a small amount (EUR 10 million) of these revenues would be paid directly to the Palestinian health services in order to alleviate the difficult situation,

I.
extremely worried at the ongoing infighting between the various Palestinian factions, which is further plunging the territories into chaos and disorder, with the risk of civil war, and deploring the continuation of targeted assassinations by the Israeli security forces, which is angering further the Palestinian people and causing the loss of innocent lives; pointing out that the international community should in no way be responsible for the collapse of the Palestinian Authority,

J.
whereas no effort should be spared in seeking to bring the parties back to dialogue and move forward along the lines of the Road Map,

1.
Deplores the Council decision to suspend the direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority without any immediately available alternative, thus aligning the EU with the US policy of cutting all contacts with the Palestinian Government led by Hamas representatives;

2.
Calls, in this respect, on the Council to act quickly and come up with the mechanism requested by the Quartet which will ensure the direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people and cope with the ongoing humanitarian crisis;

3.
Welcomes the meeting between President Abbas and Israel’s Foreign Minister Livni which took place in Sharm el Sheik on 21 May 2006; urges the two sides to continue in this direction, step up dialogue and resume the negotiations;

4.
Welcomes, furthermore, Mr Olmert's pledge on 23 May 2006 to extend his hand to Mahmoud Abbas and meet him in the near future, and calls for the immediate organisation of such meeting with the aim of moving towards bilateral peace negotiations under the auspices of the Quartet and the Arab League;

5.
Expresses, nevertheless, its concern at the Israeli attitude of delegitimising the Palestinian counterpart; points out that there is no alternative to bilateral negotiations and that unilateral actions could undermine the efforts to reach a lasting comprehensive settlement;

6.
Calls on the Israeli Government to stop extra-judicial killings, while recognising Israel's right to self-defence, to halt the construction of the separation wall and the expansion of settlements, in particular those of Gush Etzion, Betar Illit and in the area between East Jerusalem and Maele Adumim, and to put an end to the restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians, and calls on the Palestinian Authority to effectively put an end to violence and terrorist activities and clearly distance itself from and publicly condemn such acts; calls, in this respect, upon the PA and Hamas to extend and consolidate the present truce (Hudna) and take all possible steps to prevent and condemn terrorist attacks on Israeli territory;

7.
Calls on the Palestinian Government to take concrete steps to show support for a peaceful two-state solution, with the acceptance of previous agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League's Beirut proposal or the endorsement, possibly through a referendum, of the so-called 'prisoners’ document';

8.
Requests the Israeli Government to immediately resume the direct transfer of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues which have been blocked since January 2006;

9.
Urges the Council and the Commission to make every effort to support and consolidate the Palestinian institutions, put a stop to and control violence in connection with the ongoing power struggle and uphold the fragile democratic process;

10.
Takes the view, in this respect, that the Council’s decision to stop all contacts with the newly elected Palestinian Government and freeze EU direct aid is counterproductive since it contradicts the basic principles of democracy and is felt by the population as an unfair collective punishment; is of the opinion that the ability of the democratically elected Hamas-led government to reform and to adapt to the requirements of the international community should be duly tested;

11.
Points out that two members of the Quartet, as well as other European countries, do not recognise Hamas as a terrorist organisation and that Russia has already announced that it has no objection to holding talks with representatives of the present Palestinian Government;

12.
Takes the view that the failure to deliver international aid will exacerbate the unfolding humanitarian crisis, aggravate the increasingly tense situation in the region, strengthen radical movements and the position of countries like Iran and Syria, and pave the way for further instability;

13.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Israel and the Knesset, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council and the members of the Quartet.